This is a species rose from western China and Rosa moyesii is tall growing, to 4m (12ft) in height and is a vigorous shrub. It has a natural arching habit and is best grown where it has room to develop naturally.
Flowers are a very attractive red, single and with raised deep golden yellow anthers.
Also known as the Mandarin Rose, foliage is ferny or lacy in appearance, deep green, oddly pinnate and oval shape. A number of cultivars are available with different growth habits and flower colours.
How To Grow Rosa moyesii
This is a shrub that grow naturally in open rocky areas. Best grown in a free draining humus rich soil.
- Prepare soil well adding good amounts of compost and some afed cow manure.
- Make sure that drained is good, if need a dd extra drainage material, or rain ether garden bed to improve drainage.
- Plant at the same level the plant was in the container.
- Water in well with a liquid seaweed fertiliser.
- Mulch around the plant to help suppress weeds.
Watering
In good soil, a deep soaking in long dry periods will be all that is needed once established.
In containers watering will need to be once a week, more often in the heat of summer.
Avoid watering the foliage as this can help prevent fungal diseases.
Make sure the plant receives adequate moisture from when the buds form through to flowering.
Pruning Rosa moyesii
As this a rose that flowers on old wood, pruning is usually after flowering, however if you want to grow the rose hips, which add an extra attraction through winter then you will need to leave pruning until spring.
We suggest this pruning method
- Removing any dead or damaged wood as it appears or at least each year.
- Once the rose is established remove some of the older canes after flowering and leave the rest to grow the rose hips.
- Prune old canes right back to the ground level, do not leave little stubs that will die back. Pruning right back to the base encourages new stems to form and will allow you to continually renew the growth.
Rosa moyesii Varieties and Hybrids Compared
A number of Moyesii hybrid varieties are available including:
- Rosa moyesii ‘Geranium’ is a more compact growing plant, deep red flowers and with paler green foliage and more rounded hips than the species itself. The Award of Garden Merit was awarded to Rosa moyesii ‘Geranium’ by the the Royal Horticultural Society in 1993. And we have grow this one to cover the side of an old garden shed.
- Rosa moyesii ‘Highdownensis’ – A hybrid with deep pink flowers, later flowering. This is a taller and more vigorous form, slightly smaller and darker foliage.
- Rosa moyesii ‘Nevada’ – Near white flowers and bred in Spain, semi double flowers and fast growing. Nevada is the Spanish for Snowy which aptly describes the colour. ‘Marguerite Hilling’, also called ‘Pink Nevada’ is a sport, resembling its parent in every way except for the colour.
Choose ‘Geranium’ for smaller gardens or spaces. ‘Highdownensis’ for larger gardens or even a hedge. ‘Nevada’ for the white flowers.
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